Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
Parallel translations
- WEB “Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
- BSB “Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
- NKJV “Cana man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?
- NASB “Can a strong man be of use to God, Or a wise one be useful to himself?
- NLT “Can a person do anything to help God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Eliphaz asks whether a man can be of any benefit to God, implying that human righteousness adds nothing to Him. He uses this truth to belittle Job's appeal for vindication.
Overview
Eliphaz states a real truth, that God gains nothing from human virtue (cf. Ps 16:2; Luke 17:10), but misapplies it to argue that God therefore has no stake in vindicating Job. While God is indeed self-sufficient, Scripture reveals He nonetheless delights in His people's righteousness and cares deeply for the upright (Prov 11:20). Eliphaz weaponizes a doctrine to dismiss Job's cry.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Luke 17:10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
- Gal 6:7–8Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
- Job 35:6–8If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
- Prov 3:13–18Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
- Ps 16:2O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
- Job 21:15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
- Eccl 7:11–12Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
- Matt 5:29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
- Prov 4:7–9Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
- Prov 9:12If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
- Deut 10:13To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 22:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.